In many ways, the scene was a familiar one at Hopeworks -- youth and community members, huddled over screens, learning to code and to use technology to change their lives. However, it was different than a normal day at Hopeworks for two key reasons.
First, it wasn’t just Hopeworks youth learning. As we do every year, Hopeworks opened it doors to aspiring coders from 6 to 60 to come and learn to code by participating in workshops led by Hopeworks alumni and volunteers from companies in the area, including EPAM, Subaru, Linode, Rutgers, OceanRingTech, and many others.
Second, coding wasn’t all that was in store for the day. In the afternoon, Hopeworks held its first ever pitch competition, awarding over $3,500 in prizes to Hopeworks alumni who have started their own businesses. The prize money came from the Thomas family, the family of a Hopeworks alumna, in memory of Aaron Thomas. When Aaron Thomas passed away, the family dedicated all donations in his memory to Hopeworks to support youth entrepreneurship. This pitch competition was the first step!
The alumni businesses pitched included marketing and design companies, web design services, and many others! You can see a video of the entire event here!
Check out pictures from the entire day here
This month, our partners showed up in a big way to support our young professionals! Aramark Career Exploration DayOur young adults visited Aramark’s Philadelphia HQ for an exciting day of career discovery. From industry panels to hands-on workshops, they gained real-world insights into IT, innovation, and hospitality—and some were already eyeing job openings before the […]
We’re thrilled to announce that tickets are officially on sale for the Hopeworks 25th Anniversary Reception—a special evening honoring the young adults, partners, and community members who have shaped our journey. September 25, 2025Collingswood Ballroom, Collingswood, NJPurchase Tickets Now » This milestone event will include a cocktail reception, awards dinner, and powerful storytelling from the Hopeworks […]
Building a top-performing RCM team from scratch is no easy task, but it's exactly what Pecola King, Hopeworks’ Director of Revenue Cycle Management, has done again and again. When Pecola relocated to Arkansas, she inherited a team with zero billing experience. Within one quarter, she transformed that team into the top-performing RCM unit - hitting every KPI and setting […]
